Is their any benefit to running a higher octane fuel?

Question

Does it enhance miles per gallon, overall performance and longevity of the engine?

Answer 1

You should run the fuel with the octane rating that the manufacturer of the vehicle recommends.
I'll try to explain some myths.
Octane is the anti-knock rating of the fuel.
Knock (spark knock, detonation,pinging) is caused by the fuel igniting erratically in the combustion chamber when two flame fronts collide. This happens when the combustion temperatures and pressures are too high.
Higher compression engines need higher octane to prevent the spark knock from occurring.
I'll try to shorten this.
Premium fuel (higher octane) burns slower and more evenly to prevent the fuel from preigniting. It does not ignitite quite as easily as regular low octane fuel.
Most premium fuels have additives such as ethanol to raise the octane rating. Unfortunately the ethanol does not produce as much energy as the gasoline. Less energy, less fuel mileage.

There are other factors involved. Some vehicles have a knock sensor system that retards the ignition timing when it senses spark knock. If the fuel has too low of an octane rating for the vehicle the ignition timing can affect fuel mileage, usually at cruise (highway) operation.

If your vehicle is designed to run on 87 octane then it will run fine on fuel rated at 87 octane. Running a higher octane fuel won't improve mileage or performance.

Now, let me explain what happened to me. I live in California.
The fuel in California is regulated by tree hugging, do-gooders that have the correct intentions but use the incorrect methods to save the world but yet they force their issues on everyone else in the state and brainwash the kids to believe their crap. There I vented. To put it short, the fuel here is diluted with chemical additives to try to reduce emissions.
I recently traveled to another western state (Utah). I averaged 21 MPG in my 2004 3.8L GM car. I refueled in Salt Lake City at a Conaco station. I noticed that the pumps had 85,88,93 octane fuel. I require at least 87 so I purchased the 88 for $2.85 per gallon. ( CA was $3.25 for 87). I purchased that tank of fuel just prior to getting on the interstate to head home. I got 26.3 MPG on that tank of fuel.
The difference was not really the octane of the fuel but instead the lack of "oxygenating additives" to the fuel to reduce the emissions. Now that was approximately a 20% difference in fuel economy. If I burn 20% more fuel will I really be reducing the emissions? I think not! So California's "band-aid" is to fool themselves into thinking they have cleaner burning fuel. If they abolish the regulations on fuel the cars will burn 20% less fuel, the oil companies will charge less for the fuel (cost of the additives) yeah maybe, and the particulates might be reduced.

Not too long ago we tried MTBE in the fuel to oxygenate it and make it clean burning. Now we have found that the poison has leeched into everything and we are trying to rid the evironment of the stuff. MTBE damaged the soft "rubber" components in the fuel systems of our vehicles making them crack and fail causing excessive vapor emissions. MTBE polluted our recreational lakes and water reservoirs also leeching into the aquifers.

Well, hug a tree and pray that the additives don't choke you I guess. All I know is that we are all being fleeced by the oil companies anyway, I say go hydrogen fuel cells.

Answer 2

NO! Engines are designed with different compression ratios. An engine with a high compression ratio (some sports and high performance cars) need the higher octane fuel to prevent spark knock. The average car is designed for regular gas and the only thing high octane gas does in these cars is deplete the drivers pocket book. Some people will tell you that an occasional tank of high octane will clean your engine and keep it running better. If you ask you'll find they have never had any training in auto mechanics and are only uttering a personal belief. Save your money. High octane isn't needed unless your car was designed for it.

Answer 3

Its best to run the lowest octane that won't cause pinging in your engine. Other wise you're wasting your money. Some cars have an engine management system (computer) that checks for pinging and either advances or retards the timing. With this system higher octane and will give a little more power because it will advance the timing. Generally you won't notice much with a 4 or 6 cylinder engine anyway.

Answer 4

Everyone who thinks that it will give them more HP their idiots, the reason high performance engines run high octane is so that it will prevent what is called vapor lock where the engine will not turn over b/c so much fuel is in the cylinder, the fuel atomizes before it enters the cylinder therefore more than should goes into cylinder. The lower the octane you can run the more power you can make on our ARCA Race car witch is a built 358 we have to run 123 octane rating, that is absolutely the lowest we can run, Its all about how the fuel atomizes

Answer 5

Only in high compression or supercharged/turbocharged engines.

High octane fuel is designed for stable burning under high pressures. Low octane fuel will tend to detonate in these high performance engines.

Putting high octane fuel into a low performance engine (one that calls for 87 octane in the manual) will not change the fuel economy, performance, or longevity of the engine. It will cost you more money however.

Answer 6

High octane fuel is designed for high performance higher compression engines. These engines have stronger valves, springs and higher lift and dwell cams which allows better fuel and air injection into the combustion chamber. You should use the fuel recommended in your vehicle's owners manual. To use any other fuel is a waste of money.

Answer 7

Ordinarily, higher octane results in higher horsepower. However, if your engine is designed to perform with 87 or 89 octanes, a higher octane will damage the engine. It will burn out the valves and pistons. The timing would also have to be readjusted for a different octane.

Answer 8

it doesn't always help all engines it does tend to burn a little hotter and give some engines a slight bit more power ,but it wont help all engines though,most cars built today will run about as good on regular as they will on higher octane fuels,you can try it and see if you notice a difference,but i doubt that you will,and it doesn't add life to the engine,good luck on it.

Answer 9

burns hotter